The benevolent banner., 1887-07-30
LETTER FROM ALASKA.
LBy James A. Wirth in Pacific Baptist

the requirements of a hermit, no
matter how fastidious and exactin.
be may be. 1t is al island about 20
miles wide and 40 miles in length, Iy-
ing to the northeast Of the larger is
land Of Kodiak from which latter it
is separated by narrow channel
The largest settlement, where we
live, also called Afognak, consists Of
two villages, one inhabited by Gre
oles RUSSIAN half-breeds,) and the
other by Alentes, so called, the orig
inal inhabitants, who are really a
branch Of the Eskimo family. The
CreNes speak corrupt Russian. the
Alentes still cling to the language Of
their ancestors. A number, both Of
the Cre0les and Of the Alentes, know
very few words of English. When
drunk some Of them can utter En-
glish oaths quite fuently, but when
sober scarce word Of English can be
gotten out of them. Kodiak, where
Bro. and Sister Roscoe are stationed,
in comparison with this place, might
be said to be in the bounds Of ciyili-
cation. The Collector Of Customs
(the only L. S. Officially the general
manager of the A. G.. Company, to-
gether with all the white employees
Of that company, and in fact all the
white and English speaking people,
engaged in, or living Oh fur hunting,
live all at Kodiak. Here we have no
white, no English speaking people
whatever. Then, too, Kodiak has all
the mail facilities there are. All the
A. 9. COmpany's steamers and sail
ing vessels land there and sail from
there, while we have to depend for
our mail and supplies upon an occa-
siOnal small schooner sent by the
Company to bring provisions, ETC.,
ard carry back wood and furs. There
is almost constant communication
between these places in good weathe
by means of small boats and bidarkas
(native skin canoes). The distance
is only about so miles: but as this
northern sea is rather stormy and
treacherous, that kind of communica-
tion is neither certain nor very safe.
The climate for this high latitude
(5S north) may be said to be mild, but
the winter is long; it commenced TO
snow in October, and in January
came freczc-up which has continued
till now.
The scenery is magnificent from
every point Of view, and from what
haye learned some of the grandest
views on earth may be enjoyed a
short distance from here, in looking
across Shellik Straits upon the gla-
ciers and volcanoes of Alaska penin
sula. | hope to see some Of those
wonders this summer.
The people are, physically, very
fair specimens Of humanity. They
are strongly built and Of average
height, and would be quite tall but
for the fact that their lower limbs are
out of proportion, short. They age
very fast, however, especially the
women, owing to the fact of their
rude and comfortless way of living,
A few, very few only, know Of the
comfort of a bed. Almost all sleep
on the floor with a skin or blanket
to cover them. Women can be seen
bare-footed out in the snow carrying
water or wood; but they invariably,
be it VAIN or cold have shawl or
cloth of som kind thrown over their
heads Small children 60 mostly
bare-footed.
Religiously, the whole population
of these islands are nominally men,
bers of the Greek church. Yet few
seem to know anything more of re-
ligion, than TO crop themselves, burn
candles at festivals and funerals, fill
their house up with chalk crosses to
keep off the deYi! al 4 sing one or
two chants. Virtually ;hey are "a ig-
norant and superstitious as was their
heathen fore fathers, while they be-
Heve themselves TO be the only Chris
tians in the world 1t will not be
easy TO penetrate the thick crust of
ignorance, superstition and stolidity
which confronts Us. Did success de-
pend upon human strength aud wis
dom, the case would be hopeless
Yet we are hopeful: for our trust is
in the living God, and with Him
nothing is impossible.